Living in Melbourne
MIT Melbourne campus is located in the heart of the City of Melbourne, capital of the state of Victoria.
The city itself is located amidst parklands along the banks of the Yarra River, just a few kilometres from Port Phillip Bay. With the sea to the south and mountains to the north, the city offers something for everyone.
With a vibrant multicultural population of over 3 million, it’s the second-largest city in Australia and is a busy financial and business centre. It also has the highest number of educational institutions and is rightly referred to as Australia’s education capital.
Its large Asian and European communities have ensured a rich mix of Eastern and Western culture, resulting in Melbourne boasting an international reputation for fabulous food. Any night of the week you can choose from Asian to European to Middle-Eastern styles of cuisine.
Melbourne has, on more than one occasion, been described as world’s most liveable city by The Economist Intelligence Unit.
In addition to The Economist Intelligence Unit, William M. Mercer global consulting group has consistently rated Melbourne as one of the top 20 cities in the world in terms of quality of life, using measures of political stability, security, economic strengths, access to medical facilities, standards of education, recreational and cultural options, standards of housing and environmental considerations.
Shopping
Melbourne is famous across Australia for its shopping: from quirky second-hand stores to haute couture boutiques, you’ll find them all within easy reach of MIT. Dotted throughout the city are great venues for nightlife, ranging from small, quiet bars and art-house cinemas to grand theatres.
Sport
Sport is popular in Victoria and sporting facilities are excellent. It is known as the sporting capital of Australia, hosting international sporting events like the Australian Open Tennis Championship, Formula One Grand Prix, the 500cc. Motorcycle championship, test cricket and Aussie Rules football. In 2006, Melbourne hosted the Commonwealth Games.
Outside Melbourne
In addition to international sporting events and venues, Victoria is also well known for its beautiful snowfields which are excellent for those interested in skiing during the winter season. There are many attractions outside the city, such as the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, Phillip Island with its world-famous penguins, the Goldfields and the Great Ocean Road. If tastes are a bit more adventurous, there is rock climbing and bushwalking in the stunning Grampians National Park, or surfing along Victoria’s extensive coastline.
Transport
Melbourne has an extensive public transport system of buses, trains and trams, all of which are within easy access of MIT and which makes it easy to travel around.
Climate
Melbourne has four distinct seasons; however, it is well known for its unpredictable weather throughout the year. Summer is dry, with warm to hot daytime temperatures, but rarely humid; but Winter can be cold with higher rainfall, so owning a thick, warm overcoat is a good idea.
Cost of living
Victoria is not only a great place to study, live and work, Melbourne is among the developed world’s least expensive cities in terms of cost of living, while at the same time offering an excellent quality of life – making it one of the world’s most liveable cities.
The cost of living depends upon a student’s background, individual lifestyle and expectations. However, most students manage on approximately $21,041 per year. This is exclusive of tuition fees and lifestyle expenses but covers accommodation, food, public transport clothing, entertainment, books, stationery and incidental expenses.